It is expected that time spent at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio is invigorating, but for many racers, it is also inspiring.
They put their heart and soul into chasing their dream and crushing their goal, and their efforts and excellence were celebrated at the exquisite 51st Annual Edelbrock Banquet of Champions presented by Lincoln Electric, January 25, 2025 at Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio.
The ceremony began with evocative entrances by Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice champion Callie Moreland and her father, Mark Moreland; Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Intermediate champion Brayden Baehr and his father, Brian Baehr; Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Advanced champion Megan Kassin and her father, Jack Kassin; Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation champion Nick Hastings and his mother, Melissa McCandlish; Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike champion Matt Short and his wife, Colleen Short; Edelbrock Pro champion Nick Hastings and his grandmother, JoAnn Hastings and Edelbrock Super Pro champion Scott Sill and his wife, Maria Sill. All of the champions had special seating reserved for them, and all gave touching and terrific speeches on stage.
The 2023 Bill Bader Sr. Sportsman of the Year, Chad Moss, also had a grand entrance with his wife, Barb Moss.
After Hugh Goodale delivered the invocation and Chris Biggin performed our country’s national anthem, Bill Bader, Summit Motorsports Park president, his son, Evan Bader, Summit Motorsports Park track manager, and his sister, Bobbie Bader, Summit Motorsports Park sponsor sales and services manager, began hosting the event. Billy Carroll, Edelbrock contingency coordinator, was a fine co-host, and Kelli Bader, Summit Motorsports Park race director, and Rock & Roll Express Entertainment Company carefully handled the event’s elaborate production.
Jayme Bader, wife of Bill Bader and Summit Motorsports Park merchandise manager, was lovingly acknowledged, along with other very special guests including Billy Carroll from Edelbrock and his wife, Cathy Carroll, Lon Damon from Lincoln Electric, William Tharpe from NHRA North Central Division and Jim Grosso from Summit Racing Equipment and his wife, Jill Grosso.
Banquet sponsors recognized for helping to make the presentation possible were Edelbrock, Lincoln Electric, Summit Racing Equipment, TFC Transportation, Cornwell Tools, Norwalk Lions Club, Dornan’s Sales and Service, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, B’Laster, Ink, Inc. and Smith Family Foods.
“In addition to putting the spotlight on our racers, the event showcased the steadfast support our sponsors extend to them,” said Bobbie Bader. “The sponsors believe in our racers as much as we do, and they want to join them on the road to success.”
Racers who finished sixth through tenth in points were recognized on stage, including Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation racers Chris Klein, Larry Strohscher, Cameron Groff, Bob Spishak and Jeremy Murray, and Edelbrock Pro racers Mickey Adams, Brian Green, Paul Stephens, Nathan Schultze and Rick Cole Jr; Edelbrock Super Pro racers Frankie McCullough, Jim Zatorscke, John Boes, Dennis Rock and Jeff Fenn.
They were followed by racers who finished fifth in points, including Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice racer Ryland Lawrence, Intermediate racer Alyson Hurst, Advanced racer Gabe Wojnowski, Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation racer Tom Miller Jr., Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike racer AJ Jester, Edelbrock Pro racer Joe Childs and Edelbrock Super Pro racer Jono Gerber.
Fourth place awards went to Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice racer Freya Danes, Intermediate racer Tyler Jacobs, Advanced racer Alena Schafer, Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation racer Mitch Williams, Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike racer Jason Keller, Edelbrock Pro racer Vic Ellinger and Edelbrock Super Pro racer Adam Albright.
Third place honors were delivered to Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice racer Jacob Vile, Intermediate racer Ellieanna Oldenburg, Advanced racer Maleah Mosley, Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation racer Codie Balcom, Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike racer Craig Adams, Edelbrock Pro racer Jon Lowery and Edelbrock Super Pro racer Brian Spring.
Second place saw Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice competitor Kendall Moreland, Intermediate competitor Kace Shupp, Advanced competitor Roman Iocoangeli, Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation competitor Jeff Pishner, Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike competitor Kevin Adams, Edelbrock Pro competitor Andy Innes and Edebrock Super Pro competitor Justin Hardy.
Applauded for representing Summit Motorsports Park at the NHRA Junior Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals at Bristol Dragway in Tennessee were Callie Moreland, Kendall Moreland, Freya Danes, Adeline Lawson, Ryland Lawrence, Derek Peters, Ava Tiburzi, Kace Shupp, Brayden Baehr, Morgan Pickens, Madison Pickens, Brady Dunigan, Georgia Baker, Roman Iocoangeli, Megan Kassin, Maleah Mosley, Annelies Lawson, Alena Schafer, Nick Peters, Nick Kassin, Leah Verner, Hannah Shaw, Vince Tiburzi, Breyonah Miller, Ben Newton, Emma Scheuer, Cruz Schafer, Logan Buckley, Autumn Gibson and Abigail Baker.
Summit Motorsports Park racers who qualified for the North Central Division NHRA Summit Racing Series Team Finals, held at its new home at Summit Motorsports Park for the first time in 2024, and helped lead us to the fantastic first-place finish, also were feted. Representing Edelbrock Super Pro were Adam Albright, John Boes, Jono Gerber, Justin Hardy, Frankie McCullough, Dennis Rock, Scott Sill, Brian Spring and Jim Zatorschke. The Edelbrock Pro team consisted of Joe Childs, Rick Cole Jr., Stephen Davenport, Vic Ellinger, Brian Green, Nick Hastings, Jeff Hura, Andy Innes and Nathan Schultz, while the Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike team included Craig Adams, Kevin Adams, AJ Jester, Jason Keller and Matt Short, and the Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation team featured Cameron Goff, Nick Hastings, Tom Miller Jr., Jeremy Murray, Lance Oberg, Jeff Pishner, Bob Spishak, Larry Strohscher and Mitch Williams. Brandon Buchanan represented Summit Motorsports Park for the High School category, John Boes raced in EV and Lucas Sowers raced in Junior Street. Securing extra success at the event were Nick Hastings, who won in Sportsman, Scott Sill, who won in Super Pro and Andy Innes, who won in Pro, which qualified them to race toward a world championship at the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Also, Brandon Buchanan won the High School Race, John Boes won the Super Pro Bonus Race, Andy Innes won the Pro Bonus Race and Adam Albright won Super Pro Best Appearing.
“While working on the starting line at every race, I can see how hard our racers work to win a round at Summit Motorsports Park,” said Evan Bader. “I can also see their determination, their desire to win and how they don’t want to quit. They will always be our inspiration as we plan and produce this annual celebration.”
Best Appearing awards went to Edelbrock Super Pro racer Jesse Howard, Edelbrock Pro racer Frank Marley, Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation racer Larry Strohscher, Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike racer Matt Short, Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice racer Kendall Moreland, Intermediate racer Brady Dunigan and Advanced racer Maleah Mosley.
Carefully-chosen awards were given to Edelbrock Pro racer Andy Innes for Most Improved; Edelbrock Pro racer Melanie DuMonte for Rookie of the Year; Lincoln Electric for Manufacturer of the Year and Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels for Sponsor of the Year.
Attention was directed to the Edelbrock Super Series, which awarded the top performers with over $67,750 in cash, and the Edelbrock Super Series Elite presented by Red Line Oil and Rocko Machine, which offered the top 16 racers in Edelbrock Super Pro, Edelbrock Pro, Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation and Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike the opportunity to race for a share of a substantial $64,400 guaranteed purse at the Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire.
Also acknowledged were unique programs including the R&R Auto Body Paint-My-Ride, which in 2024, saw Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike racer Kevin Adams win the race runoff for the custom motorcycle paint job. Adams is the second motorcycle racer to win the longstanding runoff, following Kyle Dolamore in 2023.
Additionally, the Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation Bonus awarded a minimum of $500 to racers laying down perfect passes in Edelbrock Pro, Edelbrock Super Pro, Wiseco Cycle Tech Super Bike and Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation, a Frank Hawley Drag Racing School Experience was awarded and the Dart Big M Shootout race at the TransTec Halloween Classic presented by Harland Sharp saw competitors race for a unique trophy and gift certificates from Dart Machinery.
Also noted were Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco, which offered a thrilling opportunity for racers ages six through eighteen to compete in the 2024 season-long points chase for $5,850 in cash and awards, an increase of $1500 from 2023, and the Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster Shootout, which allowed winners in Advanced, Intermediate and Novice at select Edelbrock Super Series races to qualify to compete in front of fans for a share of cash and prizes in the Summit Racing Junior Dragster Shootout at Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire.
Collectively these programs, along with an expansive contingency program, bonuses and incentives, awarded Summit Motorsports Park racers with nearly half a million dollars in cash and prizes.
During the ceremony, Lindsey Short was named the recipient of the Jacob Wasko Scholarship Fund and Leah Verner was announced as the winner of the Jacob Wasko Thumbs Up Award. Both awards are given in honor of racer Jacob Wasko, who passed away in 2022.
Among the many inspiring moments of the evening was Bill Bader reading the name of each Bill Bader Sr. Sportsman of the Year back to 1975 before those in attendance joined him on stage. Then, in a touching tribute, Bader announced Scott Wasko as the 2024 Bill Bader Sr. Sportsman of the Year before delivering a heartfelt speech about his good character, graciousness and generosity. Wasko received a standing ovation as his family walked up to join him on stage.
“Every year, my team and I discuss who should be honored with the Bill Bader Sr. Sportsman of the Year title, and all of the reasons why, and Scott Wasko’s name came up immediately for 2024,” said Bill Bader. “Scott, who happens to be a remarkable racer, is an even more remarkable person. He is a man of honor, and he treats everyone with respect. It was our pleasure to recognize him along with our champions and racers during the very special 51st Annual Edelbrock Banquet of Champions presented by Lincoln Electric.”
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